collateral damage
noun
: injury inflicted on something other than an intended target
specifically
: civilian casualties of a military operation
Examples of collateral damage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tesla needs Musk's technical brilliance but can't escape the collateral damage of his polarizing public persona.
—
Allen Adamson, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Geneviève is collateral damage for Crispin, but Jack is a direct target.
—Oliver Sava, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Everyday Americans shouldn't be the collateral damage in a global trade fight.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Recommended Some collateral damage with disruption?
—Jackie Valley, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
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Allen Adamson, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Geneviève is collateral damage for Crispin, but Jack is a direct target.
—Oliver Sava, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Everyday Americans shouldn't be the collateral damage in a global trade fight.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Recommended Some collateral damage with disruption?
—Jackie Valley, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
Cite this Entry
“Collateral damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collateral%20damage. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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